Millions of Pixel devices can be hacked due to a pre-installed vulnerable app

Many Google Pixel devices shipped since September 2017 have included a vulnerable app that could be exploited for malicious purposes.

Many Google Pixel devices shipped since September 2017 have included dormant software that could be exploited by attackers to compromise them. Researchers form mobile security firm iVerify reported that the issue stems from a pre-installed Android app called “Showcase.apk,” which runs with excessive system privileges, allowing it to remotely execute code and install remote package.

“iVerify discovered an Android package, “Showcase.apk,” with excessive system privileges, including remote code execution and remote package installation capabilities, on a very large percentage of Pixel devices shipped worldwide since September 2017.” reads the report. “The application downloads a configuration file over an unsecure connection and can be manipulated to execute code at the system level”

The issue allows the app to retrieve its configuration file over unsecured HTTP from a single AWS-hosted domain, exposing millions of Android Pixel devices to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. Threat actors could exploit this flaw to inject malicious code, execute commands with system privileges, and take over devices, potentially leading to serious cybercrimes and data breaches.

The “Showcase.apk” package, developed by Smith Micro, is part of the firmware image on millions of Android Pixel phones, potentially enhancing sales in Verizon stores.

The app “Showcase.apk” cannot be removed through the standard uninstallation process, and Google has yet to address the vulnerability. The app is preinstalled in Pixel firmware and included in Google’s OTA updates for Pixel devices. The experts pointed out that although the app is not enabled by default, it can be activated through various methods, one of which requires physical access to the device.

The flawed app is called Verizon Retail Demo Mode (“com.customermobile.preload.vzw”) and requires dozens of permissions for its execution.

The app has been present since August 2016 [1, 2], but there is no evidence that this vulnerability has been exploited in the wild.

“The application fails to authenticate or verify a statically defined domain during retrieval of the application’s configuration file. If the application already maintains a persistent configuration file, it is unclear if additional checks are in place to ensure the configuration parameters for command-and-control or file retrieval are up to date.” continues the report. “The application uses unsecure default variable initialization during certificate and signature verification, resulting in valid verification checks after failure”

The application is vulnerable because its configuration file can be altered during retrieval or transit to the targeted phone. It also fails to handle missing public keys, signatures, and certificates, allowing attackers to bypass the verification process during downloads.

It is important to highlight that an attacker needs physical access to the device and the user’s password to exploit this flaw.

Google said the issue is not a vulnerability in Android or Pixel systems and announced that the app will be removed from all supported in-market Pixel devices with an upcoming Pixel software update.

Google is also notifying other Android OEMs.

iVerify noted that the concern is serious enough that Palantir Technologies is opting to ban Android devices from its mobile fleet over the next few years.

“The Showcase.apk discovery and other high-profile incidents, like running third-party kernel extensions in Microsoft Windows, highlight the need for more transparency and discussion around having third-party apps running as part of the operating system. It also demonstrates the need for quality assurance and penetration testing to ensure the safety of third-party apps installed on millions of devices.” concludes the report. “Further, why Google installs a third-party application on every Pixel device when only a very small number of devices would need the Showcase.apk is unknown. The concern is serious enough that Palantir Technologies, who helped identify the security issue, is opting to remove Android devices from its mobile fleet and transition entirely to Apple devices over the next few years.”

Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and Mastodon

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Android)